BlueTriton’s exit from Ontario highlights the growing power of movements against bottled water consumption.
BlueTriton, North America’s largest bottled water company, recently announced it will shut down its largest water bottling plant in Canada and cease all operations in Ontario. While the company did not provide specific reasons for the decision, this move signals a significant shift in the bottled water industry’s trajectory. It also underscores the increasing effectiveness of social movements that have challenged bottled water consumption’s environmental and social impacts.
Bottled water is the most-consumed packaged beverage globally, with a market value of $340 billion. However, its rapid growth has come with severe environmental consequences, including plastic pollution and the over-extraction of groundwater.
Opposition to the industry has grown in recent years, with activists focusing on two main strategies: challenging water extraction practices and promoting tap water as a sustainable alternative. BlueTriton’s retreat from Ontario is a clear victory for these movements, reflecting their ability to influence public opinion and policy.
BlueTriton’s decision to leave Ontario is rooted in years of grassroots opposition to its water extraction practices. The company, formerly part of Nestlé, operated a bottling plant in Aberfoyle, Ontario, where it held permits to extract up to 4.7 million liters of groundwater daily. In 2016, Nestlé purchased an additional well, which would have increased extraction to 6.2 million liters daily.
Residents and environmental groups, such as Wellington Water Watchers and Save Our Water, have long opposed these operations. They argue that the region’s groundwater is a finite resource essential for municipal water supplies, especially during droughts. In 2012 and 2016, droughts exacerbated tensions as residents faced water restrictions while Nestlé continued extracting groundwater at high volumes.
Indigenous activists from the Six Nations of the Grand River Haudenosaunee First Nation also joined the fight, framing the issue as a matter of water justice and land sovereignty. With only 17% of the reserve’s residents having access to safe drinking water, the contrast between corporate water extraction and local water insecurity became a powerful rallying point.
These efforts gained significant media attention and political traction. In 2016, Ontario’s government imposed a moratorium on new water-taking permits for bottlers and raised extraction fees. Even after a change in leadership, the moratorium was extended, and a 2021 policy revision gave local communities veto power over large water-bottling operations. This policy shift effectively blocked BlueTriton’s expansion plans, contributing to its decision to leave the province.
While opposition to groundwater extraction has been a key focus, another strand of activism has targeted bottled water plastic waste. Campaigns to “reclaim the tap” have encouraged municipalities, universities, and other institutions to ban bottled water sales and promote tap water as a sustainable alternative.
Cities like Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver have led the way by banning bottled water sales on public property and installing refill stations in parks, airports, and other public spaces. These efforts have been bolstered by growing awareness of the plastic pollution crisis. Approximately 600 billion single-use plastic bottles are consumed and discarded annually, with bottled water accounting for a significant share.
Canada has emerged as a global leader in this movement. Over 14 million Canadians now live in jurisdictions with bottled water restrictions, and 85% of households frequently use refillable water bottles. Similar policies have been adopted in cities worldwide, including San Francisco, Paris, and Berlin. International initiatives like the Blue Communities Project have further amplified these efforts, linking over 80 municipalities across eight countries.
The combined impact of these movements is evident in the bottled water industry’s declining fortunes. After decades of steady growth, per-capita consumption of bottled water is stagnating or declining in many parts of the Global North, including Canada, the United States, and Europe. Industry analysts have expressed concern about this trend, with one Nestlé sustainability manager likening bottled water to “the mink coat or the pack of cigarettes” regarding social acceptability.
Nestlé’s decision to sell its North American bottled water business to BlueTriton in 2021 was partly driven by falling sales and mounting environmental opposition. BlueTriton’s closure in Ontario highlights the industry’s challenges, including rising costs, stricter regulations, and shifting consumer preferences.
See also: Stratus Vineyards Launches Wine in Reused Wine Bottles
BlueTriton’s retreat from Ontario results from the power of organized opposition and public advocacy. It also reflects a broader shift toward sustainable water management and reduced reliance on single-use plastics. By promoting tap water access and challenging corporate water extraction, these movements are helping to protect vital water resources and minimize environmental harm.
As the bottled water industry faces increasing scrutiny, the success of these campaigns offers a roadmap for addressing other environmental challenges. Water is valued as a public good rather than a commodity by prioritizing community-led solutions and sustainable practices.
